Text Messaging

DividendGuy · Post by **DividendGuy** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 1:39 am

I'm with mikeBOS on this one. I don't understand why you need a cell phone plan in the first place. Buy an iPhone (used preferably), never contact a provider, download skype, and use wifi for your cell phone calls. Like mikeBOS said and I said earlier, you would be limited to wifi calling only but I think it's worth the sacrifice for the savings. I guess I really don't understand why you keep mentioning a $65.00 cell phone plan. You don't have to purchase a cell phone plan to purchase an iPhone. You would only need to do so if you wanted to use a cell phone carrier's network to make cell phone calls that are not wifi based.

AlexOliver · Post by **AlexOliver** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 1:56 am

My first post (on this topic) was why *I* don't use it. I'm not saying one *can't*, but that it's not practical in my situation.
You can reread the posts for specifics but I think I've been pretty clear on my reasons.

jerry · Post by **jerry** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 2:26 am

Dividend guy, If you are only going to use wifi, why get an iphone at all. Cheap/used netbook, laptop or tablet give you a lot more for less money.

DividendGuy · Post by **DividendGuy** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:54 am

@jerry
I already own an iPhone. Besides, I can't carry a laptop in my pocket everywhere I go and talk at my desk at work with a laptop and a microphone..it's just not realistic. But that's just in my situation. It might work for others.

Kevin M · Post by **Kevin M** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 5:39 pm

Would an iPod Touch work with the wifi setup described for an iPhone above aka Skype? If we had wifi at work this would solve about 95% of my mobile needs, since I have wifi at home.

AlexOliver · Post by **AlexOliver** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 5:51 pm

Skype won't run in the background or receive incoming calls on an iPod Touch or an iPhone without a data plan. If that doesn't matter to you, then yes, it would work.

Frugal Vegan Mom · Post by **Frugal Vegan Mom** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 7:46 pm

Didn't take the time to read all the responses here, just wanted to say THANK YOU to HSpencer for adding one more voice to the anti-text argument.
I'm 28 and seems like everyone I know does it. When I was in h.s. most people still didn't have cell phones, so I've been in the middle of the change for the last ten years, for some reason all the new technology never felt good to me though.
I don't text or respond to texts from people, or play around on Facebook. I'm an extremely social person, but prefer "real" communication via phone or in person. The other methods just seem shallow, inefficient, and a detriment to society.

DividendGuy · Post by **DividendGuy** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 8:16 pm

@AlexOliver
Do you have some kind of link about that? I have Skype and run it purely off wifi. It will receive calls and run in the background as long as your device has multitasking and internet.

DividendGuy · Post by **DividendGuy** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 8:19 pm

@KevinM
That would work. Obviously you would miss out on the opportunity to make/receive calls when you are not near wifi spots (i.e. traveling in car), but it might be worth the cost savings.

Kevin M · Post by **Kevin M** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 8:22 pm

Thanks AlexO and DivGuy, something to keep in mind when wi-fi becomes more widespread.

dragoncar · Post by **dragoncar** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:59 pm

What do you guys think about a Mifi type mobile router? You'll always have internet access, plus voip, and in theory you could drop your home broadband as well. The downsides would be: potentially slower (than home broadband), potentially bad service (depending on your location), can have data caps, one more thing to carry.
See: http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/08/24/ ... -glorious/

($40/mo "unlimited" broadband on mobile wifi router)

DividendGuy · Post by **DividendGuy** » Fri Jan 07, 2011 10:21 pm

@dragoncar
Pretty cool stuff. I never thought about that.

mikeBOS · Post by **mikeBOS** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:21 pm

Saw this on the CNN front page and reminded me of this thread.
It's about using an iPod Touch and a MiFi to replace a typical cell phone plan.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/01/ ... tml?hpt=C1

AlexOliver · Post by **AlexOliver** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:50 pm

@dragoncar, mikeBOS: Thanks for the info! I'll look into MiFi when I have to start paying for my own phone.

DividendGuy · Post by **DividendGuy** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 2:41 am

@MikeBOS
Very cool. That would be great for me, since I use wifi voip only. That would certainly bridge the gap between home and work when I don't have wifi signals. The key to that idea would be to wait until the price/speed is effective enough to use it as your only internet source. Right now I pay $53.00 to Comcast for my internet services. That mifi would be cheaper, but wouldn't have the speed I need. I'm not ready to give up my online gaming. Once 4G mifi becomes readily available and less expensive than my Comcast service....well, then that will definitely be something to look into.

dragoncar · Post by **dragoncar** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 2:44 am

If you care about your ping, I have a feeling that wireless will always be slower than wired.

mikeBOS · Post by **mikeBOS** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 4:55 am

Plus, using it as your primary internet at home, you may bump up against data caps. All cellular carriers seem to eventually think 5GBs/month = unlimited.

akratic · Post by **akratic** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 7:13 am

two thoughts:
1) Other people have mentioned Google Voice, but in case anyone is unfamiliar with it: Google Voice basically merges texting and emails. If someone texts you, it becomes an email in your inbox. If you reply to that email, they get a text. This is the perfect setup for someone who likes emails but not texts!
2) Friends and family are priority #1, and both a cell phone and a text messaging plan are an important part of fostering those relationships for me. So this is the last place in my entire budget I'd want to cut costs. Whatever works for you though --

M · Post by M » Fri Jan 21, 2011 4:15 pm

@DividendGuy
I'm planning on doing the same thing - waiting for the price/coverage to be there and then getting an unlimited 4G mifi device for all my connectivity needs everywhere I'm at.
Clear has unlimited 4G mifi plans for $45 /month. If you're located in their service area, it could be worth looking into. I wish they would bring service to my area...
Verizon's 4G LTE network is currently getting rolled out throughout the country as well. The service is fast, 5-12 mbp/s, but unfortunately is limited to 5GB/month for $50 /month. If verizon actually had an unlimited 4G mifi plan I would seriously consider it. But they don't, so, meh...

remer · Post by **remer** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:26 pm

I have a basic cell phone on a prepaid, no contract plan, that costs me less than $7 per month for emergency use or quick calls when I'm away from a land line. I have an iPod Touch (4th generation) and use a free app called Textfree with Voice that assigns me a phone number to allow texting for free over wifi. Incoming voice calls are free but you have to earn free calling minutes for outgoing calls by taking surveys online or signing up for special offers. Notifications are pushed so you know when you are getting an incoming call/text as long as the iPod Touch is on. I use Textfree through Google Voice so that I only give out my GV number, not the Textfree, cell phone or land line numbers.